Thomas Vermaelen has revealed that he suffered six relapses with his Achilles
injury and admitted that he still does not know when he will return to full
fitness.

Speaking at length for the first time since becoming injured last September, the Arsenal centre-back described the tough mental test he is facing, but he also outlined his increasing hope that the problem has been cured by a small operation in Sweden earlier this year.

“I feel no trouble in the Achilles tendon itself, but the muscles around it still need to be made stronger,” he said. “I do not know when I will be back.

"At first they said I would need four or six weeks after the operation. But it soon became apparent that it would last longer. I’m not even in training. I’m still working on my exercises to come back. This is a tough mental test.”

Fresh details have also emerged about the exact cause of the injury. It is thought that the problem was not to the Achilles tendon itself but a small tendon in the same area of his leg which has no function and not all people have. It is this tendon that is believed to have been causing the problem and which was removed in January.

Manager Arsene Wenger said that it has been a small “procedure” rather than full surgery that was carried out in January.

“I relapsed six times,” Vermaelen told the Belgium paper Het Nieuwsblad. “That was hard. Every time I had a goal to come back, but that was then broken again and again.

"I am now cautious. It is frustrating that I cannot play. I had never been injured for so long. On some days it’s mentally very tough but I see this as a test. Perhaps it is also good for my career and it will make me stronger mentally.”

After an outstanding first year in English football, Vermaelen has been hugely missed this season. His absence will be even more keenly felt after Johan Djourou suffered a dislocated shoulder against Manchester United on Saturday.

Despite reports in Switzerland on Tuesday which suggested Djourou could return by the end of the month, Arsenal still do not expect him to play again this season. Djourou will be assessed further on Wednesday but could even have surgery this week.

Talks continue, meanwhile, with former Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann over a return to the club until the end of the season.

Lehmann, 41, is ready to provide cover to Manuel Almunia following injuries to Lukasz Fabianski, Wojciech Szczesny and Vito Mannone.